Results 21-40 of 151 for drugs speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (4 Oct 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: I asked about international engagement as regards dealing with drug issues.

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ..., such as murder investigations. The person will be based in Bailieborough and deal with the three counties. I do not think that is workable in any way, shape or form. We know the issues we have with drugs across the board. We are in a different world. There are mental health issues. We know the supports that gardaí do not have. We have to deal with the issues that we can...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (28 Sep 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...worth of cocaine. I commend An Garda Síochána, the task force, the Navy and the Army rangers and call for more of those operations as quickly as possible because the only way that cartels and all those involved in heinous drug crime will learn from this is when it hurts them in their pockets. There were significant issues in Drogheda. No Deputy is unaware of the feud there...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (28 Sep 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...him in. It is then reviews seem to occur. We know the whole issue with the rosters. The other issue my local JPCs have is the fear that we are going to lose community gardaí and members of the drug squad. As much as things did not go exactly well with the negotiations, it looks positive that the Commissioner has said he will meet with all the organisations individually, that there...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Sep 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ..., will meet with Deputies later. I imagine it will also put forward its worries regarding that particular issue. We all know the issue in respect of Latin America. It is a serious part of the drugs supply chain. Dealing with both the supply and demand end of drugs is very difficult. We know about harm reduction and it is hoped the citizens' assembly will come up something more...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (26 Sep 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...that aim. Much has been said about the rosters. It is to be hoped the ongoing negotiations will deal with that. In my own home town, it would mean losing people from community policing and the drugs squad. There was some suggestion that this would not happen to specialist units but I think there is an element of people playing with words in that regard. The issue we have in Louth,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Misuse of Drugs (21 Sep 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...on the door and the rest of it. We need to ensure there is information. We also need to look at addiction services and harm reduction. I was at a joint policing committee meeting recently. Drug dealing is happening on every street. We know that this cannot be policed out. We all welcome that the citizens' assembly is finally up and running and want to see what will come from it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...the few three-county models and it is in no way workable. At the same time, that is happening in December. On 6 November, we are going to lose community gardaí. We are going to lose gardaí from the drug squad in order to operate the nonoperational Garda rosters. None of this is good enough. None if this is workable. We need there to be Government engagement to ensure...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (5 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...addiction support network, which is an absolutely vital cog that provides supports that no one else does for families. This is not only for the Minister of State responsible for the national drugs strategy but the Minister for Justice, who is the custodian, to a degree, of the report and the implementation plan. There is a failing around providing sustainable funding. An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...implementation report spoke about the important work it does, particularly with families. It is sometimes the go-to body for those who are not necessarily comfortable with going to the Garda about drug debt, intimidation and the huge issues there are with those matters. Those involved have had numerous meetings with the HSE on funding, but it is not really cutting the mustard. They have...

Youth Justice Strategy: Statements (21 Jun 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...absolutely vital to being able to offer the sort of interventions that are necessary. It is also an area in which there are very early interventions for ages eight to 11. When we talk about drug dealing or kids involved in criminality or falling into it, that is the sort of age bracket we are talking about. By the time we talk about youth diversion projects and in some cases, by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Family Support Services (1 Jun 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...and Monaghan? The organisation provides an important service to families of people suffering addiction. It also provides a service to the Garda and helps to deal with the absolute disaster of drug debt intimidation.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Family Support Services (1 Jun 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: The Family Addiction Support Network was probably late to the game in seeking funding. Back in 2008, the north-eastern regional drugs and alcohol task force, like every other body, had its money slashed. It then had to try to keep a skeleton of its service in play. That is what happened across the board. We all know the issues that exist at this time in regard to drug addiction and drug...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Family Support Services (1 Jun 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Let me be clear. The Family Addiction Support Network has had a huge amount of engagement with the drugs and alcohol task force. In fairness, the latter has put in business plans and requests for funding that have not necessarily been met at this point. However, the requests that have been put in probably would not cut the mustard in regard to the particular issue we are dealing with,...

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 May 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...legislation. We all know about the engagement of children in criminal activity. We can call it what we will, whether grooming or whatever else. We know this particular issue exists concerning drug crime in particular and that we have many streetwise criminals at this stage who are only too willing to circumvent the law and to use and abuse people. At this stage, we are talking about...

Court Proceedings (Delays) Bill 2023: Second Stage (24 May 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...up. Work needs to be done in that regard. We all know we do not have a sufficient number of judges to do the requisite business. I accept that when we talk about crime we know the issue we have with drug crime. We hope something will come from the citizens' assembly. I have just taken a call about a drug dealing case in a reasonably middle class area in Dundalk where obvious...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...work that needs to be done in this State, but we could change the energy map right across Europe. There is room for manoeuvre and co-operation across the board. We have often spoken here about the scourge of drug crime on communities. Major issues of that sort can, to a great extent, be dealt with at European level. Europe has to be about justice. It has to be about justice for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-East Inner City Initiative (26 Apr 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: .... In the past few days, parents have come to me because they are worried about their children who are in the throes of addiction and cannot access addiction services. I am constantly dealing with drug intimidation scenarios, including this week, where people who do not see themselves as having a lot of choice fall into what they think is easy money. Then usually a bigger shark runs them...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...not there. We know that gardaí at times have to make up for the mental health supports that are not there. Let us be really clear. Let us see if we are serious about dealing with organised crime and drugs. I say that while accepting that the citizens' assembly may be a bit braver than many of us in here, but let us be clear that we really have to get to grips with poverty. We...

Courts Bill 2023: Second Stage (19 Apr 2023)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: ...it. In fairness, it is "sooner better quicker" and this is absolutely necessary. We know every town and village is dealing with a serious level of crime, whether we are speaking about burglary or drugs, and by drugs I do not think the Minister of State will be shocked to learn that I am speaking about drug debt intimidation and those particular threats of violence and violent acts. We...